ASUS ROG STRIX B550E Gaming Motherboard Review
So today we got a chance to play with another ASUS's newest AMD B550 Chipset based motherboard the ASUS ROG STRIX B550E Gaming motherboard. ROG STRIX Gaming series motherboards offers feature sets usually found in high-end motherboard segment and ROG STRIX B550E gaming motherboard is also not an exception as it includes the latest PCIe® 4.0 , Intel® 2.5 Gb Ethernet, WiFi 6 (802.11ax), dual M.2 with heatsinks, USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Aura Sync RGB lighting, which are mostly part of X570 series of motherboards. ASUS ROG STRIX B550E Gaming Motherboard a combination of bold aesthetics with premier performance delivering great gaming experiences with a style.
Now let's see what ASUS ROG STRIX B550E board have for us.
Features
AMD B550 Ryzen AM4 Gaming ATX motherboard with PCIe® 4.0, teamed power stages, Intel® 2.5 Gb Ethernet, WiFi 6 (802.11ax), dual M.2 with heatsinks, SATA 6 Gbps, USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Aura Sync RGB lighting
- AM4 socket: Ready for 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™ processors
- Best gaming connectivity: PCIe® 4.0-ready, dual M.2, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C® plus HDMI™ 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.2 output
- Smooth networking: Onboard WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Intel® 2.5 Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard
- Robust power solution: Teamed power stages with ProCool power connector, high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors
- Renowned software: Intuitive dashboards for UEFI BIOS and ASUS AI Networking make it easy to configure gaming builds
- DIY-friendly design: Includes pre-mounted I/O shield, BIOS FlashBack™, Q-Code and FlexKey
- Unmatched personalization: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including Aura RGB header and addressable Gen 2 RGB header
- Industry-leading Gaming Audio: Audio USB Type-C®, AI Noise-Canceling Microphone, SupremeFX S1220A codec, DTS® Sound Unbound™ and Sonic Studio III for immersive audio
Specifications
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CPU
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AMD AM4 Socket 3rd Gen AMD
Ryzenâ„¢ Processors
* Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list
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Chipset
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AMD B550
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Memory
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3rd Gen AMD Ryzenâ„¢
Processors
4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4
4400(O.C)/4133(O.C.)/4000(O.C.)/3866(O.C.)/3600(O.C.)/3466(O.C.)/3200/3000/2800/2666/2400/2133
MHz Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel Memory Architecture
OptiMem II
ECC Memory (ECC mode) support varies by CPU.
* Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified
Vendors Lists).
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Graphic
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Integrated Graphics
Processor
1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 1 x HDMI 2.1(4K@60HZ)
*Graphics specifications may vary between CPU types.
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Multi-GPU Support
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Supports NVIDIA 2-Way SLI®
Technology
Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireXâ„¢ Technology
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Expansion Slots
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3rd Gen AMD Ryzenâ„¢
Processors
2 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
AMD B550 Chipset : 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 mode) * 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1
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Storage
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Total supports 2 x M.2
slots and 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
3rd Gen AMD Ryzenâ„¢ Processors :
1 x M.2_1 socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices
support(SATA & PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)
AMD B550 Chipset :
1 x M.2_2 socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices
support (SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)* 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s) Support Raid
0, 1, 10
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LAN
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Intel® I225-V 2.5Gb
Ethernet
ASUS LANGuard
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Wireless Data Network
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Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX200
2x2 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) support 1024QAM/OFDMA/MU-MIMO
Supports dual band frequency 2.4/5 GHz
Supports channel bandwidth: HT20/HT40/HT80/HT160
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Bluetooth
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Bluetooth v5.1*
*BT 5.1 function will be ready in Windows 10 build 19041 or later.
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Audio
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ROG SupremeFX 7.1-Channel
High Definition Audio CODEC S1220A
- Dual OP Amplifiers
- Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
- High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR recording
input
- Supports up to 32-Bit/192kHz playback *
Audio Feature :
- SupremeFX Shieldingâ„¢ Technology
- Rear audio USB Type-C® port
- Audio Shielding
- Premium Japanese audio capacitors
- Audio Cover
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USB Ports
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Rear USB Port ( Total 8 )
3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s)(2 x Type-A +1 x USB Type-C®)
4 x USB 2.0 port(s)(4 x Type-A)
1 x USB 2.0 port(s)(1 x audio USB Type-C® )
Front USB Port ( Total 7 )
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)
4 x USB 2.0 port(s)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 front panel connector port(s)
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Software Features
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ROG Exclusive Software
- RAMCache III
- ROG CPU-Z
- GameFirst VI
- Sonic Studio III + Sonic Studio Virtual Mixer
- Sonic Radar III
- DTS® Sound Unbound
- Overwolf
- Anti-virus software
ASUS Exclusive Software Features
Armoury Crate
- Aura Creator
- Aura Sync
Ai noise cancelling microphone
AI Suite 3:
- 5-way Optimization
TPU
EPU
DIGI+ VRM
Fan Xpert 4
Turbo APP
- EZ update
WinRAR
UEFI BIOS
ASUS EZ DIY
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 3
- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
FlexKey
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ASUS Special Features
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Aura Sync
- Standard RGB header(s)
- Addressable Gen 2 RGB header(s)
ASUS Q-Design
- ASUS Q-CODE
- ASUS Q-DIMM
- ASUS Q-LED (DRAM [yellow],CPU [red], VGA [white], Boot Device [yellow
green)
- ASUS Q-Slot
ASUS Thermal Solution
- Aluminum M.2 heatsink
ASUS EZ DIY
-BIOS Flashbackâ„¢ button
-BIOS FlashBackâ„¢ LED
-Clear CMOS header
-Procool
-Pre-mounted I/O shield
- SafeSlot
Rear audio USB Type-C® connector
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Back I/O Ports
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1 x Intel® I225-V 2.5Gb
Ethernet
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI
3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (2 x Type-A+1 x USB Type-C®)
5 x USB 2.0 (1 for audio USB Type-C®)
5 x Audio jack(s)
1 x BIOS FlashBackâ„¢ Button(s)
ASUS Wi-Fi module (Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth v5.0)
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Internal I/O Ports
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1 x CPU Fan connector(s)
1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s)
3 x Chassis Fan connector(s)
1 x AIO_PUMP connector
1 x AAFP connector
2 x Aura RGB Strip Header(s)
2 x Addressable Gen 2 header(s)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 connector support additional 1 USB ports(20-pin, Type-C)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1(up to 5Gbps) connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.2
Gen 1 port(s)
2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s)
1 x M.2 Socket 1 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices
support(SATA & PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)
1 x M.2 Socket 2 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices
support (SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
6 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
1 x Thunderbolt header(s)
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x System panel(s)
1 x Thermal sensor connector(s)
1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s)
1 x Q-Code
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Accessories
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User's manual
4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
1 x Supporting DVD
1 x ROG Strix stickers
1 x Cable ties pack(s)
1 x Extension Cable for RGB strips (80 cm)
1 x Extension cable for Addressable LED
1 x ROG Thank you card
1 x Wi-Fi moving antenna
1 x M.2 SSD screw package(s)
1 x M.2 Rubber Package(s)
1 x ROG audio USB Type-C® cable
1 ROG key chain
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BIOS
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256 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI
BIOS
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Manageability
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WOL by PME, PXE
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Operating System
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Windows® 10 64-bit
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Form Factor
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ATX Form Factor
12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )
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Note
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*Share bandwidth with
PCIe3.0 x1_1, PCIe3.0 x1_2
** When the M.2_2 Socket 3 is populated , SATA6G_5/6 ports will be disabled.
'* Due to limitations in HDA bandwidth, 32-Bit/192 kHz is not supported for
7.1-Channel audio.
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Package
Board comes in a nice black cardboard box with model number, image of the board and details about supporting technology and features.
Inside the box
ASUS ROG STRIX B550E GAMING comes with very nice set of accessories :
Looks
Board made with a black PCB of size ATX Form Factor (30.5 X 24.4 cm) featuring an impressive metallic black color scheme.
Layout
Detailed layout of the board.
Back I/O Panel features BIOS FlashBack Button, Intel I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet, DisplayPort, HDMI, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (2 x Type-A+1 x USB Type-C), 5 x USB 2.0 (1 for audio USB Type-C), 5 x Audio jack(s), ASUS Wi-Fi module (Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth v5.0)
Removing Heat-sinks
Heatsinks are made up of dense aluminum with thermal pad installed, giving great passive cooling to VRM MOSFET, B550 chipset and M.2 Storage. Armor with back I/O include a LED PCB mounted under
Component Layout
Let's now see what all components ASUS have planned for this board.
The board offers 14+2 power stages CPU Power VRM Section controlled with ASP2006 DIGI+ Power controller IC with set of MPS (Monolithic Power) MP86992-C787 power stages which is a monolithic half-bridge
with built-in internal power MOSFETs and gate drivers capable of 70A output current each along with 60A Ferrite Chokes and 10K Black Capacitors.
Testing
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Board | ROG STRIX B550E Gaming |
| RAM | 2 X 8GB Corsair DDR4 2800Mhz |
| SSD | KINGSTON KC2000 500GB NVMe PCIe SSD |
| Cooler | MSI |
| GFX | MSI GTX 1070Ti |
| PSU | Corsair RX650 |
| Display | Acer S220HQL |
| OS | Windows 10 |
BIOS
Bundled Software
Benchmarks
Overclocking
Power Consumption
Wattage reading as per displayed by APC Pro 1000VA (Model no. BR1000G-IN) UPS.
Pros
- 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port along with USB 3.2 Gen 2 front panel connector
- On board Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
- Great looks
- Aura RGB and Addressable Gen 2 ARGB Support
- ROG SupremeFX 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220A
- Good bundled Software
- Easy Overclocking
Cons
Conclusion
The ASUS ROG STRIX B550E Gaming motherboard is a very good motherboard for gamers and mainstream users. The feature-set are similar to that usually found in the higher-end ROG Strix X570 Gaming series, along with robust power delivery and effective cooling ROG Strix B550-E Gaming gives you a head start for a strong overclocking and gaming performance build.
Finally, if you are looking for a new good quality gaming build with solid performance and want to build an AMD B550 chipset platform than the ASUS STRIX B550E Gaming Motherboard is a solid contender and worthy of our PC TeK Reviews CHOICE Award.
Manufacturers Info
Site Link
Thanks.